Ockert le Roux Photography

William Allen Crouch arrived in South Australia on the 'Templar' in 1845. He had a sheep run between Angaston and Freeling, later went to Portland and arrived in Mount Gambier in 1849. Crouch was credited with having blazed the track from Mount Gambier to Penola by marking the trees, and traversed the district on foot.

He built the first two storey store in Mount Gambier opposite Lange and Company in Commercial Street. He also had a share in the Heinemann Saddler with J. Heinemann on Commercial Street East. The building afterwards became the Catholic Convent. He sold the business in 1870 and went to live at Lowan, Kalangadoo.

[On back of photograph] 'Sect. 1103, Allots. 47/48 / Crouch's store, later Convent / Commercial Street, Mt. Gambier / The first two storey building in Mount Gambier / See Mt. Gambier Souvenir, 1926, p. 28 / Probably 1867-70 (H. Ginnings, photographer)'. SLSA - [B 3389] Portrait SLSA B- 3022)